complain

To complain is to express your dissatisfaction or to indicate that you have an illness.

An example of complain is when you tell a restaurant they gave you poor service because your food was cold.

An example of complain is when you say you have a headache.

complain

to claim or express pain, displeasure, etc.

to find fault; declare annoyance

to make an accusation; bring a formal charge

Origin of complain

Middle English compleinen ; from Old French complaindre ; from Vulgar Latin an unverified form complangere, origin, originally , to beat the breast ; from Classical Latin com-, intensive + plangere, to strike: see plaint

complain

intransitive verb

com·plained, com·plain·ing, com·plains

To express feelings of pain, dissatisfaction, or resentment.

To make a formal accusation or bring a formal charge; file a complaint.

Origin of complain

Middle English compleinen, from Old French complaindre, complaign-, from Vulgar Latin *complangere : Latin com-, intensive pref.; see com– + Latin plangere, to lament; see plak-2 in Indo-European roots.

From Middle English complaynen, from Old French complaindre, from Medieval Latin complangere (“to bewail, complain”), from Latincom- (“together”) + plangere (“to strike, beat, as the breast in extreme grief, bewail”); see plain, plaint.